West Bank Closure: Netanyahu Orders Territory Shut After Hebron Ambush

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the immediate closure of the West Bank on Friday after two Israeli soldiers were killed by Palestinian gunmen near Hebron. The attack, which took place outside the city, also resulted in the deaths of the two shooters and left three other soldiers with minor injuries. Emergency services reported five people injured, including two men in their 20s with lower-limb gunshot wounds and one unconscious individual.

The Israeli army stated that the shooting occurred near Yehuda Junction in the morning. The two suspects, identified as Palestinians from Hebron, arrived at a military position armed with an M16 assault rifle and a handgun. A firefight lasted approximately 20 minutes before troops eliminated both gunmen. The military claimed it had thwarted a planned attack on civilians and said a large quantity of ammunition was found in the attackers' vehicle.

Netanyahu convened an emergency security cabinet meeting following the incident. His office directed forces to cordon off Hebron and prepare to shut down the entire territory. The prime minister blamed Hamas, asserting the group was planning a major attack to murder civilians, though he provided no specific details on the plot. He later described the soldiers' actions as courageous and determined.

Military operations have expanded across the West Bank. Forces began targeted searches in the specific Hebron neighborhood where the gunmen operated. Residents are restricted to leaving through three designated exit points after security screening. The army also commenced the demolition of infrastructure it deemed a threat. Army chief of staff Eyal Zamir indicated the operation would last several days. Dozens of arrests were made across the territory, with security agencies seizing weapons including submachine guns.

The violence coincides with a period of heightened political tension. Israeli voters are scheduled to decide on Netanyahu's next term next Tuesday. The prime minister suggested Hamas might attempt to strike Israel to influence the election, a claim he made without presenting new evidence. This marks the fourth time in the past month that Israel has restricted movement in the West Bank by closing gates and checkpoints.

Netanyahu stated that the military would force Palestinians out of the attacker's neighborhood, a move he compared to previous assaults on refugee camps in 2025. Human Rights Watch has described such expulsions as war crimes, a characterization Israel rejects. Brad Lander, a U.S. congressional candidate who was detained in the West Bank on Wednesday, called the closure an effort to make Palestinian life impossible. Amnesty International noted a surge in settler violence during the current olive harvest season.